Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is the newest member of the billion-dollar club! His projected net worth has reached $1.4 billion (£1.03 billion), according to the newly published Hurun India Rich List 2025. Khan—dubbed Bollywood’s king of romance—has had a four-decade career in the film industry of Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay. Since then, he’s mesmerized audiences and evolved into a versatile mogul.
Khan’s rise to billionaire status reflects the changing nature of India’s economic growth drivers. The nation is searching for the next frontier of wealth creation. Time-honored sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, IT, and banking, are now joined by influential industries including entertainment and sports. Anas Rahman Junaid, founder of the Hurun Report India, notes that “as the Indian economy matures and moves to its next stage of wealth creation, we are seeing new centres of value emerge beyond traditional sectors like manufacturing, IT and banking.”
Khan’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s done a great job of re-inventing himself from an accomplished actor to a big-time player in the production industry. He heads one of India’s biggest production houses. He has dipped his toes into sports by owning a cricket team. His diversification is largely responsible for him being so rich. He now joins the ranks of other international celebrities and influencers, from Arnold Schwarzenegger to pop star Rihanna to golfer Tiger Woods and singer Taylor Swift.
Khan’s wealth surpasses that of other major Bollywood players. He places just ahead of his co-star Juhi Chawla and her family, worth $880 million. Hrithik Roshan is next on the list with $260 million net worth, followed by director Karan Johar at about $200 million. Amitabh Bachchan and his family close out the list with an estimated combined wealth of $183 million.
“It’s rare for their net worths to stretch all the way to ten figures.” – Forbes
As Karan Johar’s financial maneuvers continue to make waves, in 2024, he sold a 50% stake in his film production company, Dharma Productions, to billionaire Adar Poonawalla for a stellar $119 million. These kinds of transactions are a reflection of the robust ecosystem of the Indian entertainment industry. They even laud Khan’s incredible feat of becoming a billionaire as an accomplishment.
At 59, Khan ascends to a truly historic peak. At the same time, he cements his Bollywood bona fides while continuing to highlight the shifting economic fortunes in India. His story shows the promise of expanding those opportunities outside of traditional industries. Most importantly, it opens doors for the next generation of entrepreneurs.